Industry Engagement Top-of-Mind as ITA Announces Two New Board Directors

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - The Industry Training Authority (ITA) has appointed Laurie Sterritt, Director, Aboriginal Employment & Business Development, BC Hydro, and Shane Stirling, Vice-President, Epscan Industries, as members of the ITA Board of Directors, to continue to lead and ensure BC's trades training system aligns with industry demand.

Laurie Sterritt brings 20 years of experience to the ITA Board, leading projects across public, private and non-profit sectors. A member of the Kispiox Band of the Gitsxan Nation, Ms. Sterritt's vast knowledge of and history with Aboriginal employment will be a huge asset as ITA continues to grow this underrepresented group in the skilled trades.

Shane Stirling is active in the direction and growth of trades training at the local, provincial and federal levels, and is Red Seal certified in four trades. He has a strong connection to industry in northern BC, specifically in the oil and gas sector. Mr. Stirling's industry insight on what it takes to attract workers to this region will be valuable as ITA aims to fill the many jobs available.

Since the introduction of B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, ITA has been working to coordinate the trades training system to prepare British Columbians for anticipated future job openings across the province. Part of this plan requires building strong relationships with industry members to tap into their needs and experience, and to ensure that the appropriate trades training is available in order to funnel the right skilled tradespeople into top in-demand jobs in BC.

With their combined and diverse industry experience, ITA's newly appointed Board Directors are well-equipped to help ITA continue to lead an effective industry engagement strategy and approach.

On behalf of the Board, senior leadership team and staff, ITA would like to thank retiring members, Barj Dhahan and Gordon Grant, for their valuable service to the Industry Training Authority.

Ms. Sterritt and Mr. Stirling's full bios, along with the bios of the other Board members, can be found in the backgrounder.

QUOTES

Gary Herman, Chief Executive Officer, ITA
"We are thrilled to have Laurie Sterritt and Shane Stirling on the ITA team. Their combined experience, industry connections and fresh perspectives will be invaluable in achieving ITA's vision of world-class apprenticeships for British Columbians."

Laurie Sterritt, Director, Aboriginal Employment & Business Development, BC Hydro & ITA Board Director
"The ITA Board is a team of highly skilled industry members who have an impressive gage on what the key demands are in their sectors, and what needs to be done to have these demands met. I look forward to bringing in my experience with Aboriginal employment to support this underrepresented group and provide insights on how to attract qualified skilled tradespeople."

Shane Stirling, Vice President, Epscan Industries & ITA Board Director
"I accepted this role on the ITA Board because I strongly believe that an effective and relevant skilled trades system is a driving force for economic growth in BC. Industry engagement is the key to ensuring the right skills are being taught to British Columbians in order to fill the jobs that need to be filled most."

BACKGROUNDER

The following individuals have been appointed as members of ITA's Board of Directors as of July 2016:

Laurie Sterritt, Director, Aboriginal Employment and Business Development, BC Hydro & ITA Board Director
Laurie Sterritt brings 20 years of experience leading projects and programs across public, private and non-profit sectors. At BC Hydro, she led a team involved in attraction & retention of Aboriginal employees; education & training programs; policy & procurement initiatives; and, capital project delivery. Prior to this role, Ms. Sterritt led the start-up and growth of the Aboriginal Mentoring and Training Association (AMTA) as its founding CEO. A member of the Kispiox Band of the Gitxsan Nation, she holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and a Professional Fund Raising Certificate from the University of Indiana.

Shane Stirling, Vice President, Epscan Industries & ITA Board Director
Shane Stirling is Vice-President of Epscan Industries, an electrical and instrumentation service provider in the Northeast British Columbia oil and gas industry. Mr. Stirling is active in the direction and growth of trades training at the local, provincial and federal levels by assisting in curriculum reviews and Red Seal Occupational Standard development. Mr. Stirling currently sits on three institutional program advisory committees and holds Red Seal trade certification in four trades. Mr. Stirling is active in his community as Vice President of the North Peace Shrine Club, Director of the North Peace Crippled Children's Foundation and a board member of the Fort St. John Petroleum association.

The following individuals are presently members of the ITA Board of Directors:

Gwyn Morgan, ITA Board Chair
Gwyn Morgan was the founding Chief Executive Officer of EnCana Corporation, Canada's largest energy company, until the end of 2005. Mr. Morgan has been recognized as Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year and also as Canada's Most Respected CEO.

Andries (Andy) Calitz,Chief Executive Officer, LNG Canada & ITA Board Director
Andy Calitz is currently the Chief Executive Officer of LNG Canada, a Shell-Petro China-Kogas-Mitsubishi joint venture. He was educated as an Electrical Engineer in South Africa, with further qualifications in Commerce, Management and Business Administration at the Harvard Business School.

Bob Davis, President, Kwantlen Faculty Association & ITA Board Director -- non-voting ex-officio member
Bob Davis is the President of the Kwantlen Faculty Association, representing all faculty who work at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Mr. Davis holds a Millwright Interprovincial Red Seal ticket and has been a Millwright Instructor for the past twenty years.

Lindsay Langill, Dean, School of Trades and Technology at Thompson Rivers University & ITA Board Director
Lindsay Langill is currently a Professor and the Dean of School of Trades and Technology at Thompson Rivers University. Dr. Langill has been the President of the British Columbia Technology Education Association, and the President of the Langley Technology Teacher's Association. He holds three Red Seal trade certifications.

Rick Kasper, ITA Board Director
Rick Kasper is a retired Bricklayer and Stonemason who operated a small business for many years. He served as District of Sooke Councillor from 2005-2008, and was re-elected to Council in 2011. In 1991, Mr. Kasper was elected to the BC Legislature and served as MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca for 10 years.

Tom Sigurdson, Executive Director, British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council & ITA Board Director
Tom Sigurdson is Executive Director for the British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council. He was elected in the 1986 Alberta general election as a NDP candidate in the electoral district of Edmonton-Belmont.

MJ Whitemarsh, ITA Board Director
MJ Whitemarsh is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Home Builders' Association British Columbia. She is Chair of the Advisory Committee for Conasys Inc., a private real estate company, as well as being a board member of the Technical Education Career Council.

Jonathan Whitworth, Chief Executive Officer, Seaspan & ITA Board Director
Jonathan Whitworth is the Chief Executive Officer of Seaspan. He assumed the role in 2009, bringing over 20 years of seagoing, shore side, strategic planning, management, and leadership experience to the organization.

About the Industry Training Authority
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) leads and coordinates British Columbia's skilled trades system. ITA works with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades. ITA is also a key collaborator in B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, which sets out a plan for re-engineering our education and training system to support our growing and changing economy, and to help British Columbians take full advantage of the opportunities presented by these changes.

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